Author Interview & Contest with Justin Gustainis

March is coming to an end and that means the 'Those Who Fight Monsters'! series of guests is also coming to an end. So who better to bring a end to the line-up other than the editor of the anthology himself!!

Please welcome Justin Gustianis back to Amberkatze's Book Blog!

Enjoy the interview where Justin talks about being an editor and writer in the anthology 'Those Who Fight Monsters'!. Also find out what Justin has been up to lately and when we will see some more of his books on the shelves!

Don't forget to enter the contest at the end of the interview! Justin is very kindly giving away a book to one lucky winner!

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Amber - Welcome back to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is great to have you here again as a guest! You have been pretty quiet lately. Where have you been?

Justin - I've been writing two novels, editing an anthology, and saving the world from the Forces of Darkness -- you know, the usual. ;)

The reason why I haven't had a new book out in a while is that Solaris, publisher of the Morris/Chastain novels, was put up for sale by the parent company, Games Workshop. All business was on hold during the six months it took to find a buyer (Rebellion Games), and then I had to negotiate my contract again from scratch. It pushed everything back by over a year.

Amber - It was great to see your name come up as editor and contributer for the anthology 'Those Who Fight Monsters'. Maybe you can tell us a little about the story you wrote for the book?

Justin - It's called "Deal Breaker." A man named Trevor Stone comes to see Quincey Morris in a panic. Ten years ago, his life (professionally and personally) was in ruins. So when a funny-looking little man came along and offered to turn things around, for only the cost of Stone's soul, he signed the contract -- not really believing it was more than a sick joke. But his life did turn around, and the contract comes due at midnight of the day he finally finds Quincey Morris. He begs Morris to somehow get him out of it before the clock strikes twelve and he's dragged to Hell.

Amber - Was it easy to decide which story to add? Was it one you already had ready for such a project or did you write it especially for the anthology?

Justin - I had this one in inventory, as we say in the writing biz. In other words, I'd been sending it out, but nobody had bought it. I had planned to write a brand new story that included Libby Chastain, but I just couldn't make it work in the time I had available, what with editing the rest of the book, and everything. So I dusted off "Deal Breaker," polished it a little more, and put it in.

Amber - What did your job entail as editor of the anthology 'Those Who Fight Mosters'?

Justin - Pretty much everything but running the printing press. I pitched the idea to Brian Hades (yes, that's his real name) of EDGE Publications. When he said yes, we had to negotiate terms. Then I started contacting writers who had ongoing series in the urban fantasy genre. A few of these folks I knew, but many were complete strangers to me, whom I knew only through their work. But everyone (even those who turned me down) was very nice. I told those who said "yes" what I wanted for the stories, edited the stories as they came in (and sent them back for changes, usually minor), wrote the introduction, and assembled the final manuscript.

Amber - So did you get to meet all the authors who contributed stories to the anthology?

Justin - No, I've never met most of them face-to-face (but then, I don't go to a lot of conventions). Everything was carried out digitally -- correspondence, story submission, editing, rewrites, etc. I would like to meet them all one day; I hope I do.

Amber - Who is responsible for the great cover art for 'Those Who Fight Monsters'? Did you have any say in the publishing process?

Justin - The cover is by an artist named Robert Nixon, who was selected by the publisher. I had no input in the cover art whatever -- but I agree, it's really terrific.

Amber - When will we see more of Libby & Quincy?

Justin - Quincey and Libby will be back saving the world this summer, when Sympathy for the Devil is published. It's about a presidential candidate who is secretly possessed by a demon. Any resemblance to any American politician, living or dead, is unintended and purely coincidental. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. ;)

Amber - A new series is coming too? Hard Spell looks good! Can you tell us what it is about?

Justin - Hard Spell is set in one of those "alternate" universes where the supernatural is real, and everybody knows it. The specific setting is Scranton, Pennsylvania. My protagonist, Stan Markowski, is a detective on the Scranton police department's Occult Crimes Unit. When a vampire puts the bite on an unwilling victim, or some witch casts the wrong kind of spell, he's the one they call. It's the first of three books in the series that I have contracted for. Evil Dark will be out in 2012.

Amber - Any other projects or news you would like to share with us?

Justin - I'm working, along with some technical geniuses, on a book trailer for Hard Spell that is going to just Kick Ass. I can't tell you more about it now, but it will be showing up on the Web come July.

Amber - What paranormal creatures are you hoping to fit into a story but you haven't managed to get them in yet?

Justin - I'm still looking for a way to include my eight grade teacher in there -- she was definitely a monster, but I'm not sure what kind, exactly.

Amber - Is there a paranormal creature you just don't like, and would never use in your books?

Justin - Unlike practically everyone else in the world, apparently, I find zombies boring. Now, I admit there were a couple of zombies in Black Magic Woman, but they were of the "voodoo" variety, rather than the "nuclear radiation means I want brains for breakfast" type, and they only lasted a couple of pages.

Amber - A lot of authors are writing now in both adult and YA genres. Have you considered writing a YA book?

Justin - I'm too far removed (translation: too damn old) from that age group to be able to write credibly for the YA audience. I mean, when I was a teenager, we were still saying "thee" and "thou" to each other.... :)

Amber - What have you been reading and watching lately? Do you have any recommendations for us?

Justin - Most of the little TV I watch (apart from news) tends to be on HBO and Showtime. I'm a big fan of True Blood and Dexter. Don't tell me you're surprised. I've also developed a fascination with a cappella choral music. Go figure.

Amber - If you could be any famous person, alive or dead, who would you be? and why?

Justin - I think I'd have to go with Bond, James Bond -- but the Sean Connery or Daniel Craig variety, not that sissy Roger Moore.

Amber - Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you will come back again soon!





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Contest Time

Justin is giving away a copy of the anthology 'Those Who Fight Monsters'!

How To Enter


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No answer = No Entry


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The contest will stay open until Sunday 3rd of April 2011 4pm CET and the winner will be picked by a randomizer. Entrants should check back to see if they have won. I do not hunt down winners and will pick new winners for any prizes not claimed within 7 days.



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Who are Those Who Fight Monsters?

Danny Hendrickson - from Laura Anne Gilman's Cosa Nostradamus series.
Kate Connor - from Julie Kenner’s Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series.
John Taylor - from Simon R. Green’s Nightside series.
Jill Kismet - from Lilith Saintcrow’s Jill Kismet series.
Jessi Hardin - from Carrie Vaughn’s Kitty Norville series.
Quincey Morris - from Justin Gustainis’ Morris/Chastain Investigations series.
Marla Mason - from T. A. Pratt's Marla Mason series.
Tony Foster - from Tanya Huff’s Smoke and Shadows series.
Dawn Madison - from Chris Marie Green’s Vampire Babylon series.
Pete Caldecott - from Caitlin Kittredge’s Black London series.
Tony Giodone - from C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp’s Tales of the Sazi series.
Jezebel - from Jackie Kessler’s Hell on Earth series.
Piers Knight - from C. J. Henderson’s Brooklyn Knight series.
Cassiel - from Rachel Caine’s Outcast Season series.


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